A new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability (CIRS) will receive more than $780,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada and the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education to pioneer developments in new technologies, product innovations and services.

The Centre is quickly expected to become one of the most innovative, high-performance facilities in North America, driving leading-edge research into sustainable building design and systems.

“Funding for this facility will help Western Canada maintain its place as a leader in sustainability research by speeding the development of environmental technologies for urban communities,” said James Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Works and Government Services and to the Minister responsible the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. "The Centre will anchor the sustainable building technologies and services cluster in the West by fostering applied research and development, promoting collaboration and partnership and demonstrating innovative technologies and services.”

"The Provincial government's funding of $390,000 for the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability will help in accelerating the adoption of sustainable practices in building and urban development," said Honourable Murray Coell, Minister for Advanced Education and Minister Responsible for Research and Technology. "Our support of the centre is consistent with British Columbia's Research and Innovation Strategy where we know success lies in our colllective efforts to support research, development, sustainability and commercialization, and to invest in people and innovative ideas."

CIRS is a unique collaboration between the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design.

The new Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability will: establish new partnerships between researchers, practitioners and end-users; identify and nurture emerging Western Canadian environmental technologies for export; and, test, train and certify innovative products and services in consultation with industry. Western Economic Diversification Canada provided $391,625 and the B.C. Ministry of Advanced Education provided $390,000 toward this project.

Western Economic Diversification Canada is a department of the Government of Canada that works in partnership with the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and encourage diversification of the western economy, as well as to represent the interests of the West in national decision-making.

For additional information, contact:

Karl Yeh
Communications Advisor
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(604) 666-4714